Calibrachoa plant named &#39;klec00070&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLEC00070’, characterized by its compact and cascading plant habit; early and freely flowering habit; violet purple-colored flowers; and good weather tolerance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘KLEC00070’.

[0002] The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of theprogram is to create new early-flowering Calibrachoa cultivars withcascading and freely branching growth habit and attractive flowercolors.

[0003] The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross made by the Inventorduring the summer of 1998 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoaidentified as code number R 14, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as codenumber J 57, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCalibrachoa was selected by the Inventor in May, 1999 in a controlledenvironment in Stuttgart, Germany, on the basis of its cascading planthabit and violet purple-colored flowers.

[0004] Asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar by terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since June,1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Plants of the cultivar KLEC00070 have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, water status and fertility level without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEC00070’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEC00070’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

[0007] 1. Compact and cascading plant habit.

[0008] 2. Early flowering.

[0009] 3. Freely flowering habit.

[0010] 4. Violet purple-colored flowers.

[0011] 5. Good weather tolerance; tolerant to rain and low and hightemperatures.

[0012] Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection, R 14, in flower color as flower color of plantsof the new Calibrachoa is darker than flower color of plants of thefemale parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of the male parent selection, J57, in plant habit as plantsof the new Calibrachoa have a more cascading plant habit than plants ofthe male parent selection.

[0013] Plants of the new cultivar can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa cultivar KLEC00069, U.S. Plant patent application filedconcurrently with this application. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the newCalibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar KLEC00069 in thefollowing characteristics:

[0014] 1. Plants ofthe new Calibrachoa are not as cascading as plants ofthe KLEC00069.

[0015] 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flowers than plantsof the KLEC00069.

[0016] 3. Flower color of plants of the new Calibrachoa is darker thanflower color of plants of the KLEC00069.

[0017] Plants of the cultivar KLEC00070 can also be compared to plantsof the Calibrachoa cultivar Sunbelkubi, not patented. However insideby-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany,plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelkubi differ in thefollowing characteristics:

[0018] 1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller leaves than plantsof the cultivar Sunbelkubi.

[0019] 2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plantsof the cultivar Sunbelkubi.

[0020] 3. Flower color of plants of the new Calibrachoa is slightlylighter than flower color ofplants ofthe cultivar Sunbelkubi.

[0021] 4. Flowers ofplants ofthe new Calibrachoa do not close under lowlight conditions whereas flowers ofplants ofthe cultivar Sunbelkubiclose under low light conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0022] The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overallappearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Calibrachoa. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical plant of ‘KLEC00070’ grown in a hangingbasket container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0023] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown in 12-cmcontainers were used for following description. Plants were grown underconditions which closely approximate commercial production conditionsfrom January to May in Stuttgart, Germany in polyethylene-coveredgreenhouses. Plants used for the description and the photographs wereabout four months from planting rooted cuttings. During the productionperiod, day and night temperatures ranged from about 10 to 18° C. andlight levels were about 20,000 lux during the beginning ofthe productionperiod increasing to 50,000 lux towards the end of the productionperiod.

[0024] Botancial Classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar KLEC00070.

[0025] Parentage:

[0026]Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identifiedas R 14, not patented.

[0027]Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identifiedas J 57, not patented.

[0028] Propagation:

[0029]Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

[0030]Time to initiate and develop roots.—Summer: About 21 days at 20 to26° C. Winter: About 28 days at 20° C.

[0031]Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, well-branched, white incolor.

[0032] Plant Description:

[0033]Form.—Annual flowering plant; initially upright to semi-uprightthen cascading; uniform, flattened and mounded appearance.

[0034]Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and patiocontainers.

[0035]Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About 4 cm.

[0036]Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm.

[0037]Growth rate.—Relatively slow.

[0038]Branching habit.—About 4 to 6 lateral branches per plant; pinchingis typically not required.

[0039]Lateral branch description.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 3to 8 mm. Internode length: About 5 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.Color: 145B.

[0040]Foliage description.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and longpersisting; sessile. Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 2 to 3.5 cm.Width: About 8 to 12 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern:Pinnate. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 137A. Young foliage, lowersurface: 138A. Mature foliage, upper surface: 137A. Mature foliage,lower surface: 138B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 145B.

[0041] Flower Description:

[0042]Flower type and habit.—Flowers face somewhat upright or outward;single, axillary; salverform. Flowers not persistent. Freely floweringwith about 10 to 15 flowers per lateral stem. Not fragrant.

[0043]Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn;flowering continuous.

[0044]Time to flower.—Early flowering; plants begin flowering about 12weeks after planting.

[0045]Flower longevity on the plant.—About 7 days.

[0046]Flower size.—Diameter: About 3 to 3.5 cm. Tube length: About 1.4cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 7 mm. Tube diameter, proximalend: About 1 to 2 mm.

[0047]Flower buds (before showing color).—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter:About 7 mm. Shape: Roughly oblong. Color: 149C.

[0048]Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five petals,fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.3 cm. Petalwidth: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape: Roughly spatulate with obtuse apex.Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:Petal, upper surface, when opening: 89B. Petal, lower surface, whenopening: 89D. Petal, upper surface, opened flower: 83B, flower colordoes not fade with subsequent development; venation, 79A. Petal, lowersurface, opened flower: 83D; venation, 79A. Flower throat (inside):160A; venation, 79A. Flower tube (outside): 82A; venation, 79A.

[0049]Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals,starshaped. Length: About 1.2 to 1.7 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.Color: Upper surface: 138A. Lower surface: 138B.

[0050]Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 to 1.6 cm. Width: About 2 mm.Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Erect to about 15° from vertical.Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.

[0051]Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower. Anthershape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 1 to 2 mm. Anther color: 11 B.Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 11 B. Pistils: Quantity: One perflower. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color:149A. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: 150A. Ovary color: 154A.

[0052]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0053] Disease Resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not beennoted to be resistant to Powdery Mildew.

[0054] Weather/Temperature Tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa aretolerant to rain and wind and have been observed to toleratetemperatures from 1 to 50° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named‘KLEC00070’, as illustrated and described.